by Faith Gibson
Rafael came out of his trance to Jonathan yelling his name. “Rafael, Jesus Rafael!!! His cell phone was ringing at the same time. He took off running toward his servant. “Tell me she’s ok.”
“Here, Sir. When you wouldn’t answer your phone, Geoffrey called me.”
“Frey, tell me you have her! Tell me she’s okay!”
“Rafael, I’ve been calling for an hour. Where are you?” Frey forewent the formalities. “Mason called me when he couldn’t reach you. Said it was too quiet in Kaya’s house and when she wouldn’t answer either of her phones he wanted permission to go inside and check on her. I gave him permission. Rafe she’s gone.”
Rafael dropped to his knees and roared.
“Rafael…RAFAEL…MY KING!!!” Frey yelling into the phone got Rafael’s attention.
“Frey, I’m going to kill that sonofabitch. I’m going to tear him apart with my claws and my fangs, and then I’m going to shove his parts down his own motherfucking throat. Do you hear me?”
“I hear you, but for now we need to go. Nikolas knows where she is. You were right to have them monitor all the office buildings. She is being held in the basement of the State Street Towers. Rafe, there are Unholy everywhere. We have been fighting them for the last hour while we were trying to get hold of you.”
“I’m on my way.” Rafe didn’t bother taking off his shirt; he just phased and launched himself into the sky. He heard Jonathan say, “Bring her back safely, my lord.”
Rafael still clutched his phone in his hand. He called Nikolas. “Tell me what you see, Nik.”
“About an hour ago, Vincent Alexander took Kaya out of the back of a nondescript white van and into the lower level of the building. I pulled the plans, and the place should be empty. It’s the one we gutted and renovated a few months ago. We were still waiting on the final electric inspections to pass before we began leasing the offices.
“The internal security feed was cut earlier this afternoon, so this was premeditated. Mason, Jasper, Sixx, Gregor, and Deacon are on their way there now. Getting there is an issue seeing as there are Unholy everywhere. I’ve called in Clan from other cities to come fight. Rafe, even the police are involved in this. We’re doing the best we can to keep the public out of it, but it’s difficult. Right now you just need to make a beeline for State Street and get your woman. We’ll worry about the rest.”
Rafe hung up and flew faster than he’d ever flown before, not caring if humans saw him or not. Gordon Flanagan had been busy. Rafael had never seen this many Unholy, dead or alive, in one place. Knowing his brothers would take care of them, he continued on to Kaya. Arriving at the State Street Towers he headed to the back of the building where he landed amidst more fighting. Sixx and Gregor cleared a path for him. “Go get her, we’ve got this,” Gregor said as he slashed his claws at an oncoming Unholy.
Rafael opened his senses and found his mate. He ran full out until he got to the door.
Chapter 47
Kaya still couldn’t talk. She must have been injected with something because her neurological system wasn’t working. All she could do was watch. And wait. If the man wanted her dead, she would most likely already be dead. Obviously he was waiting, and she was afraid she knew who and what he was waiting on. The man didn’t speak. He texted someone several times, but he never spoke, not even to her. She couldn’t answer if he did.
Her captor was watching a couple of computer monitors. Kaya couldn’t tell what was on them, but whatever it was made the albino happy. The air was stagnant with smoke. He lit cigarette after cigarette, watching the screens and checking his phone. Not once did he look at her. For that, she was grateful. He lit another cigarette when something on one of the screens sparked his interest. He stood abruptly, knocking his chair over backwards. He took one last drag and flicked the butt to the floor. Smoke escaped his nostrils on the exhale.
He turned toward Kaya with a syringe in his hand. Oh God, he’s going to kill me, just like those delegates on the loading dock. This is it. I didn’t get the chance to tell Rafael that I love him. Oh God, no! Don’t let it be too late! The albino stuck the needle in her neck and depressed the plunger, filling her system with something that made her insides catch on fire. “No!” she yelled. What the hell? “Why are you doing this Vincent?” Her voice was still a little squeaky from lack of use but it was coming back. “What do you want with me?”
When he looked at her confused, she finally got a chance to take in his features. He wasn’t a true albino. Vincent’s eyes were a bright green. It was like he had been kept out of the sun his whole life. He looked toward the door then back to her, frowning. “Please let me go. Save yourself. You know he’s going to come for me, and he’s going to save me. I can’t be held responsible for what he does to you, Vincent. Please, save yourself.”
Kaya’s pleading had the opposite effect. He smiled at her with an evil grin, turning his somewhat handsome face into something twisted. A wretched sound came out of his throat. Was he laughing? She watched in horror as the albino phased in front of her. Leathery wings burst through his t-shirt, ripping it apart. He turned away from her just as the door crashed open and a monster charged Vincent. No, not a monster: Perseus.
Her hero in fighting form was breathtaking. She couldn’t stop the tears that slid from her eyes. Kaya was both relieved and terrified at the sight of her lover. Not because of his physical characteristics. She feared the albino would harm Rafael.
It was like witnessing a plane crash. Kaya knew she was seeing what would end in death. A lot of it. Yet she couldn’t look away. More people flooded the room. Men she’d seen with Rafael were fighting their own opponents. Unholy. Rafael had been right; Kaya had never seen one this close. He’d kept the monsters away from her for all these years. She was aware of the blood being shed all over the large room. Fangs were bared, claws gouging and ripping. Rafael slashed his way through several Unholy while calling out for Kaya. She couldn’t yell loud enough over the den of fighting for him to hear her.
After what seemed like an eternity, all of the Unholy were defeated. The rest of the men backed away as Rafael squared off with the albino. His wings were gone, but his claws and fangs were bared at her captor. “Where is my mate?” Rage was pouring off Rafael as he demanded answers.
Rafael was close to losing it. He couldn’t see Kaya anywhere and then he heard the most precious sound in the world. “I’m here, Baby.” Rafael stepped to the side of Vincent so he could peer around him. Kaya had been hidden by his wings. He froze when he saw Kaya sitting unbound but making no attempt at escape. His eyes snapped back to Vincent as he demanded, “What have you done to my mate you crazy fuck?”
The albino didn’t answer, he just retracted his wings then bared his own fangs and continued watching Rafael.
“Are you all right? Did he hurt you?” Rafael never took his eyes from the man who was now assessing his opponent.
“I can’t move. He injected me with something. But I’m unharmed. Please get me out of here.” Kaya’s voice was weak and her face was streaked with tears. Rafael never wanted Kaya to be a witness to what happened when they took down the Unholy, but this is who he was, who his people were. Better for her to find out now and be able to walk away if it was too much to handle.
“I will, Bella Mia. You just sit tight, and this will be over soon.” Rafael cringed at the sound coming from his competitor. “So you’re the sick bastard that tried to take out my mate. You failed. You won’t get another chance.” Rafael was surprised Vincent was a shifter and not a clone of some sort. “You’re one of us, huh? Who’s your daddy? He sure as hell isn’t mine. My father wouldn’t sire such a foul creature as yourself.” The pale man just grunted. He had yet to say a word. “What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?”
The man growled as he slashed his claws towards Rafael’s face. Rafe barely dodged the long arm. “Aww, daddy issues? I bet the only man to make a freak like you would be Flanagan. But your last name is Alexander. Do you even kno
w who your daddy is?” He jumped, missing the sweep of Vincent’s leg. Whoever he was, he had trained extensively. Rafe was glad he’d spent time in the dojo with Frey.
Rafael punched with fists then slashed with claws. Vincent was just as quick to phase, blocking and striking back. Rafe raked his claws down the albino’s chest. He quickly retaliated with gashes of his own down Rafael’s arm.
“I guess since you’re not gonna talk, I’ll put an end to your suffering.” Rafe stopped toying with him and let his beast loose. After a roundhouse kick to the head that the albino couldn’t block fast enough, Rafe had him by the throat, claws extended, digging into the man who tried to kill his woman, his Queen.
“You have anything to say before I rip your throat out?” His fangs were itching to shred flesh. The albino just stared at him, eyes dead.
“Rafael, it would be best if we take him to the Basement for questioning. He might know where Flanagan is.” Frey was trying to talk him down.
“He’s right Rafe, we need him alive.” Gregor was in his ear now.
“He doesn’t deserve to live. He tried to kill Kaya.” Rafe could barely hear his brothers. The blood raged through his body, pulsing in his ears.
“My King, you are right, he deserves nothing less than having his intestines ripped out and twisted around his neck. However, the brothers are correct. If you want to find out why he was after Kaya, we require him to remain alive. For now.” Dante added his plea to the others.
Rafael began squeezing, the blood pouring down Vincent’s neck.
“Please no, Rafael.” His grip tightened. “My King, please!” Rafael’s head snapped around to his woman. “What did you say?”
“I said please don’t.” Tears were rolling down her cheeks.
“You called me your King.”
“I did. I love you. I want to be with you, be mated to you. I want to be your Queen, if you’ll have me.” Rafael retracted his claws and dropped Vincent to the floor. Frey and Gregor moved in and secured the shifter, ready to haul him off to the Basement.
Rafael knelt down in front of his beautiful mate, cupping her face in his bloody hands. “Are you sure?”
She didn’t flinch, didn’t hesitate. “Yes, Rafael, I’m sure.”
Chapter 48
Dante gave Kaya an antidote that counteracted the serum in her system. There were no side effects, and Rafe was able to take her home immediately. They stopped briefly at her house to grab some clothes and necessities before heading to the manor. The Clan had managed to take down all of the Unholy with no human casualties and, as far as they knew, no human awareness.
Vincent Alexander’s apartments had been combed for any indication of who hired him to take out Kaya. Notes were found around his place detailing Rafael and the Clan. He had been watching them a long time. Schematics of the hotel, as well as lists of the abandoned warehouses, were lying on the table. They did not find out why he was after Kaya, but they had to assume he was behind the murders.
With all of the Unholy that showed up for what they assumed had been a diversion, they now believed that Vincent was working for Flanagan. Gregor decided to put him in solitary for a few weeks to see if he would break down and talk, or write. Vincent being a shifter helped to explain how he was able to slip past Mason, but that opened up more questions like who exactly was he and where had he come from.
Mason apologized to both Kaya and Rafe and said he understood if they wanted to transfer him to the west coast. Kaya told him there was nothing to forgive and she wanted him to stay, if that was okay with Rafael. He agreed as long as Kaya agreed to take time off from the precinct. She gave him one week.
Kaya called Dane to let him know she was taking the next few days off and that he should be expecting a new detective who was transferring in from the west coast. She gave him instructions on showing Jasper around and getting him settled. She also briefed him on the events of the night so he could hold the staff meeting the following morning. Dante let both her and Rafael know that the DNA from the hotel room matched that of the body found at the warehouse. The victim had been part shifter, if that was possible. He and Julian were going to team up to study the blood further. Until they obtained a DNA sample from Magnus Flanagan, there was no way to be sure he was the deceased.
Rafael had quite a bit of Clan business to attend to, but he spent as much time with Kaya as possible. While he was at the office, she familiarized herself with the manor and the grounds. Kaya was taking the week to reflect on her job and her future with Rafael. Ultimately, she knew she would continue on as chief.
She and Priscilla spent much time talking and getting to know one another. The older lady was a wealth of knowledge when it came to the shifters and their ways. The crisp, autumn air combined with the solitude of the garden allowed Kaya the perfect place when she needed time alone.
Many of the brothers came and went, treating Kaya like she was already one of the family. When she would get overwhelmed, Priscilla would talk her down and preoccupy her mind with cooking or tales about various brothers. Her favorite stories were about Nikolas and Julian. Even well over five hundred years old, they still acted like competitive siblings.
With Mason once again acting as her bodyguard, Kaya went back to her house to get ready for the ball. When Priscilla found out Kaya didn’t have a mask, she had taken the liberty of ordering one for her. Since Rafael asked her to wear her hair down, it wasn’t necessary to go to a salon to have it styled. She threw the hot rollers in while applying a little make-up and listening to the radio.
She didn’t care that Mason was in the living room and could hear her singing and dancing. The high she was on was a Rafael Stone induced feeling. If she could bottle it, she’d be a rich woman. She heard Mason talking to someone and figured she better finish getting dressed. He called out, “Miss Kane, your King awaits.”
She sighed. Her King. She would never get used to that.
The limousine pulled up in front of the Stone Civic Center. Rafael stepped out, mask in place. He watched a long leg stretch out, foot touching the ground. Kaya held her hand out to him, and he took it, helping her out of the car. The brothers were scattered inside and out, those on the inside having procured invitations.
Rafe held his arm out for his beautiful date. She hooked her arm around his, and they made their way inside. Cameras flashed as soon as they stepped through the door. Rafe felt Kaya stiffen under the scrutiny. “Relax, Love,” he whispered in her ear. He was the one who should be tensing, but he felt great. For the first time in his life he felt like he was where he should be, escorting his woman to an event that meant something to her.
Even though Kaya was wearing a mask, hiding her blonde hair and long legs was difficult. She was immediately recognized and the Governor, Mayor, Commissioner, and various others who held office made their way to her saying hello and asking how she was faring since her abduction. Unless pushed, she didn’t introduce Rafael. When she was left no choice, she said his name was Roberto Gianni. Roberto was his middle name and Gianni was his a shortened version of his mother’s maiden name. He allowed his Italian accent to flow from his tongue when required to speak.
Rafael grabbed two glasses of champagne when the waiter passed by and handed one to Kaya. “To the beginning of a beautiful future, I toast you, Amore Mia.” He tapped his glass to hers and took a sip. When she didn’t follow suite, he frowned at her. “Kaya, what’s wrong? Do you not like champagne?”
“Yes, I do but you called me your love. I...It’s just...” She didn’t finish.
“Let us dance, yes?” He swallowed the rest of his drink and took her glass, setting them both down on a nearby table. He led her to the dance floor and pulled her close. “Now tell me, what is wrong? Are you having second thoughts?” He whispered in her ear so that only she could hear.
She pulled back and looked up into his eyes. “I’ve always thought with the job I have that I would end up alone. Now, here I am, in love with you and it scares me. I just met yo
u Raf…Roberto. I haven’t known you long, and this thing between us makes me wonder if it really is love or something else.”
“If it is something else, is that so bad? Tell me, Kaya, do you think of me upon waking, before you go to sleep, while you are in the shower, when you are drinking your coffee, when you are staring in awe at the glorious stars in the sky? Do you think of me as I think of you? If that isn’t love then I don’t know what is. And regardless of why I feel the way I do, all I know is I can’t imagine not wanting to feel this way.”
Kaya pulled him closer allowing him to lead her around the dance floor to song after song. When the Governor asked everyone to take their seats, Rafe was hard pressed to let her go. The dress she wore was showing enough skin that he was certain every man in the room was feeling as he did. If the night didn’t end soon, he was going to find a dark corner and discover if she was wearing panties.
The Governor kept his speech short, awards were given, and dinner was served. Kaya excused herself to the restroom and Rafe followed her as far as was appropriate. He waited for a few minutes then reached out with his hearing. Hers was the only heartbeat in the ladies’ room, and he could hear her talking to herself. Before she could think too much, he joined her. She gasped when she saw him enter the door. “Rafael! This is the women’s restro…” He pulled his mask off his face and tossed it on the vanity next to hers. His mouth crashed down onto hers as he pushed her back into the wall. He slid his hand up the split of her dress, feeling higher until he got to her ass. Her bare ass. A growl came from deep in his chest as he pressed his hardening cock against her.
Kaya wrapped her leg around his thigh pulling him closer. His hand found purchase between her legs and he began rubbing her clit. “Kaya, if I don’t get you out of here, we are going to be arrested for indecent exposure, because I am about five seconds away from ripping that beautiful dress off and fucking you right here against the wall. Please tell me we can go.”